Eagan Resource Center—a Different Kind of Food Shelf—Expands Again in Lakeville.

Winter appears to be the quiet season. The holidays are over and we seem to be settling in, waiting for spring. But this is not the case for the clients of the Eagan & Lakeville Resource Centers.  Hungry families simply cannot wait.

The 2011 statistics of the Eagan & Lakeville Resource Centers do not describe the hard, individual story of a family in need of food support, but the numbers do speak to the trend of the continuing struggles for many families in Dakota County. In 2011, upwards of 9,940 households were served by the Pantry food shelves of the Eagan & Lakeville Resource Centers.  This is a staggering 79% increase in families over 2010 and equates to more than 679,340 pounds of distributed food, a 77% increase in just one year.

Clients are able to come to the Pantry once every thirty days for a full visit, but also have the option to pick up supplemental food at weekly Fresh Food Friday
distributions. With half of the food inventory being fresh and perishable, Friday food distributions assure that healthy foods make it to the homes of families in need of food support.

Many food shelves do not have the capacity to accept and distribute fresh foods such as meats, poultry, milk, eggs, dairy, vegetables, fruits and bakery items.  But the Pantries of the Eagan & Lakeville Resource Centers value fresh, healthy foods to such a degree, the organization has set a goal of 70 percent the inventory being fresh and perishable by year’s end.  This is an increase of 20 percent—an achievable goal thanks to partnerships with local grocery stores, community and individual gardeners, local farmers and farmer’s markets.

“Fresh, wholesome food is full of nutrients, fiber and is low in fat, sodium and sugar.  Families in need of food support deserve healthy food so they too can be productive at work, school and at home”, states Nancy Wester, Community Relations of the Eagan & Lakeville Resource Centers. Half of the organization’s clients are children. “Statistics show that good nutrition leads to better grades.
This approach only makes sense and is the right thing to do”, adds Wester.

So right, that the Lakeville Resource Center is expanding again (second time in 18 months) into another 500 square foot suite totalling over 3,000 square feet to accomodate the growth in families served as well as the goal to distribute more fresh and perishable foods.

The Eagan & Lakeville Resource Center (ELRC) is a nonprofit organization, which provides food support, community resource referral and community gardening (Garden To Table) for families residing in Dakota County. “ELRC is often confused with 360 Communities, but we are not the same organization. ELRC is a separately incorporated 501(C)3 organization with the mission to serve those in need and to eliminate hunger in Dakota County”, said Lisa Horn, Executive Director of the Eagan & Lakeville Resource Centers. 

To find out how you can support these food shelves, visit the organization website at www.eaganrc.org or phone 651-688-3189.  The Lakeville Resource Center is located in suites 137 and 139 in the Holyoke Mall, downtown Lakeville.